106 Bernice P. Bishop Museum — Bulletin 



KAILI-LAU-O-KEKOA 



A LEGEND OF KAUAI 



KaiIi-Iau-0-kekoa, The-Covering-of-the-Koa-Leaf, was the only daughter 

 of Moikeha and Hooipo, two very high chiefs of Kauai. Her parents 

 loved the child greatly, and gave her every care, engaging a nurse, or 

 kahti, to be with her always. As Kaili-lau-o-kekoa grew, her beauty 

 increased. After she had ridden the surf at Maka'iwa, near Waipouli, or 

 had played konane, a complicated game resembling chess, her cheeks 

 glowed like the rising sun. 



One day, when her parents had gone to cultivate taro in Kapahi, 

 Kaili-lau-o-kekoa was alone, playing konane with her nurse. Suddenly a 

 strange man stood before the door. He asked the girl if she enjoyed 

 konane very much. When she answered that she did, he suggested that 

 she play a game with him. Kaili-lau-o-kekoa won the game by a score 

 of nine to four. She said to the stranger, "You have been defeated by the 

 daughter of Moikeha." 



The man asked, "Is Moikeha still living?" 



"Yes," answered Kaili-lau-o-kekoa. "He has gone to the taro i)atches 

 now. Moikeha loves surf-riding and my mother. He will stay on Kauai 

 till he dies." 



After the stranger had heard these words, he said, "I believed that he 

 was dead. I regret not being able to take him back to Molokai with me. 

 When he returns, tell him that the high chief of Molokai has been here, 

 and has been defeated by Moikeha's daughter in a game. Give your father 

 and mother the aloha of Heaa-kekoa." 



When the chief from Molokai had spoken the.se words, he got into his 

 canoe, and started for his island. 



Now, at Pihanakalani, where all good things abounded, — a legendary 

 spot on Kauai above the Wailua river, that cannot be found nowadays — 

 there lived two very high chiefs : Kaua-kahi-alii, The-Battle-of-the-Lone- 

 Chief, and his sister Ka-hale-lehua. The-House-of-Lehua. In this garden- 

 spot of Pihanakalani was the far-famed fountain of Wai-o-ke-ola, Water-of- 

 Life, which could restore the dead to life, and renew the youth of the 

 aged. Kaua-kahi-alii owned a very loud-soiuiding tUite called Kanika'wi, 

 which could be heard as far away as Kapaa. 



One night Kaili-lau-o-kekoa had been playing konane with her nurse 

 until midnight. That night, while the girl slept, the nurse heard the flute 

 crying. "Kaili-lau-o-kekoa, do you sleep?" 



